Steam-power plant for auto vehicles



July I20 ,'A 1926. 1,592,945 l w. B. KERRlcK SmmY royan PLANT Fo Auro VEHICLES Filed uarcn 1o. 1921 2 'os-sheet 1 Kenosll [lill:

I I 4f ,-9

esOl-lll [0155; Pres Zivi/'enfon- Patented July 20, 1926.

Parleur OFFICE.'

UNiTEin s'rn'r'ns VIALTER B'. KERRICK, 0F LOS ANGELES. CALEORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO KERRICK STEAM y 'MOTORS COMPANY, 'OE LOS ANGELES, QALFORNA, A CORPORATION OF CALL' FORMA.

STEAM-POWER PLANT AUYEOKVEHI'CLES.-

Application filed March 10, 1921.. Serial' No. 451,404.

This invention relatesto a steamy generator of the type disclosed in a co-pending application, SerialNumber 605,380, filed by me, Dec. 7, 1922, andy particularly pertainsto a boiler which is especially applicable for use in autoy vehicles for the generation of steam as a source of power in the propulsion of the vehicle.

An object of this invention is toy provide a boiler of the above character, in Which a se l'ies of interchangeable boiler unitsr` are employed and so mounted and arranged that they maybe readily removed and replaced independent of each other to facilitate re pairs andi whereby one or more unitsmay be removed Without interfering with the operationI of the boiler, so that in event one or more of theI units should become defective the boiler Would not be rendered `useless during repairs, but Would be capa-ble of being operated with aportion of the units re.- moved.

Another object is to provide a` boiler of the type specified', Whichl is so constructed and arranged that supplemental steam generating coils and a steam superheater coil may be employed with the demountable boiler units. l

rrnother object is to provide a boilerrembodying steam generating units, steam superheating coils and supplemental steam generating coils; all so disposed relative `to the flames in a con'ibustion chamber as not to be subject to suddentemperature changes excess heat is absorbed `by adjacent coilstending to keep allI coils at an equalizedv ten'iperature.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in accom-W panying drawings, in which.:

Figure l is' a View' in verticaflf section and* elevation with parts broken away and With portions removed; showing the fuel line 'in diagram. j A

Figure? 2 is a .horizontal section` and pla-n More specifically, 5 indicates a boiler unit which is here shown ascomprising a verticald ly disposed cylinder having a cylindrical side wall G, anc bottom and top kend Walls 7 land 8 fitted with a. series of lire tubes 9'v arranged interiorly ofi the cylinder and opening through the end Walls. A series of the boiler units 's employed in constructing the steam generating plant and which units are preferablyV disposed in a circle with adjacent uni close together but slightly spaced apart. A circular feed-Water manifold 10 is located dj acent to the lower ends of the boiler units and each unit is separately and dctachably connected to the manifold in open communication therewith. The manifold l0 is preferably arranged to encircle the series of boiler units adjacent to the bottom end Walls thereof, so that the units may be readily removed from theunderside of the apparatus.` rllhe connection between each of the boiler units and the manifold comprises a nipple l1 screwed inthe bottom end Wall of the units, a goose neck 12 connected to the nipplebya union coupling 113, anda nipple 14 fastened to the manifold' and opening thereto and connected to the goose neck yby av union coupling 15.

Arranged adjacent to the upper ends of the boiler units is a circular steam manifold 16 to which eachv ofthe units is detachably connected by a nipple l? attached to the top end Wall 7 of av unit. rllhe'boiler units may thus readily be detached from the manifolds by uns/:rowing a union 13 or l5 and a nipple l?, so that a unit may be removed Without disturbing adjacent units, then by capping or plugging the leads to the manifolds, the generator may be operated with the remaining units.

Arranged adjacent to the lower ends of the boiler units and preferably formed to span l close the' space encircled bythe units is a hydrocarbon burner 1S having a series of suitable burner openings 1,9 in the upper face' thereof locatedto form a series of 'HaineV jetsthioughout the bottomof the combustion chamber formed by the boiler units and the burner. yThis burner is providedy with a chamber 2G on its underside with which the burner openings communicate. and leading from this chamber is an intake passage Q'l which projects beneath the boiler units and has a flared outer end portion into which a fue-l nozzle 9.2 extends. The inner portion of the passage extends into the chamber and is separated from the latter by a hinged panel 23, which is adapted to open inwardly into the chamber, one of the purposes of this panel being to prevent baclrlirino' into the passage. The upper wall of the inner portion of the passage is formed by the top wall of the burner and is provided with burner openings 24 as shown in Figure 3, which constitutes a pilot burner. The hinged panel 23 is adjusted to be opened automatically by a predetermined pressure difference so that whenv the supply of fuel to the burner is decreased the induction of air through the intake passage is reduced causing the pressure of the mii;- ture within the burner to decrease in pressure and allow the panel to close, whereupon the mixture passes only through the burner openings 2l, to maintain a pilot flame. In this manner only a portion of the burner openings may be in operation at one time according to the degree of temperature it is desired to obtain.

It will be observed that the lower ends of the boiler units, as well as the feedwater manifold, are dis-posed below the burner 18, so that all connections between the feed- 'ater manifold and the boiler units is not subjectto flames or high temperatures, and therefore, do not tend to burn out as might occur were these connections subjected to high ten'iperature. Thus water which normally occupies the space contiguous to the under wall of the boiler unit is maintained at a moderately low temperature and this serves to prevent the natural sediment and precijiiitations from the water being baked upon the interior walls of the boiler, and leaves the sediment and precipitations in such form as to be readily renlovable.v Naturally. the colder water in the boiler unitsI exists at the lower end portions thereof and in the connections thereto, which are maintained at a con'ijniratively low temperature b j reason of the lower ends of the boiler` units being located below the burner so'thal tl nes from the burner contact willi the vertical walls of the boiler units and not with the horizontal end walls thereof.

A fuel generator 25 is positioned immediately above the burner, which is here shown as comprising a series of superimposed pipes 26-27-28-29 of gradually increasing diameters progressing upwardly, the lowermost pipe extending over the pilot burner. This arrangement of the generator pipes allows 'for the expansion of the liquid fuel and its changing into gas or vapors, so that the velocity of the contents of these pipes substantially constant and the area of the pipes relative to the volume contained follows a decreasing ratio.

fis a means for facilitating cleaning of the h crater pipes, they are connected to housings S0-81, fitted with plugs 32 arranged opposite the ends of the pipes and adapted 'to be removed to permit inserting of pipe cleaners.

rlhe uppermost fuel gene ator pipe is connected to the discharge nozzle 22 by a pipe and the lowermost generator pipe is con- A nected to a conduit Sil leading from the source of hydrocarbon supply, here shown as comprising a pair of reservoirs 35 and 36, through branch pipes 37-38, fitted with check valves 39 and 40. The reservoir 35 is designed to contain kerosene or similar heavy hydrocarbon and to carry a high pressure say of one hundred pounds, and the reservoir 36 is designed to contain gasoline or similar light hydrocarbon under a low pressure; for example, of ten pounds. The check valves 39-et0 are preferably of the ball type and are fitted with adjustable stems elwllQ, by which the extent of opening of the ball valves may be regulated as occasion may require. The kerosene line is arranged above or beyond the gasoline line and interposed between the cheek valves is an automatic cut-olf valve 43 by which the feed of kerosene may be automatically sluit oli' when steam pressure reaches a predetermined point. The control of the cut-off valve is here shown as effected by a fiaphragm e'f/l arranged in a casing and adapted to bear on a` stein i6 to which the valve t" of the cut-ofiAl is affixed; a spring A-S acting on the stem to normally maintain the valve in an open position.

A steam conduit 49 leads from the casing l on the side of the diaphragm opposite the valve stem and connects with the steam manifold so that steam pressure in the manifold above a certa-in point will operate the diaphragm to close the valve in opposition t0 the spring. By the fuel line arrangement just described, initial heating of the fuel generator may be effected by the use of the lighter hydrocarbon fuel, which fuel will be lemployed in maintaining a flame in the pilot portion. of the burner.

Connecting with the steam manifold 1G is a supplemental steam generating coil 50 which extends downwardly into the combustion chamber and has its lower end coil extending.. upwardly and connected to the steam manifold and has its upper end coil connecting `with a pipe 5l leading to a control valve 52, from whicha pipe 53 leads to a superheating coil 54, located in the combustion chamber beneath the supplemental lit.)

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steam generating coil the superheating coil connectingwith a pipe 55 leading to an engineer other suitable point of discharge.

The supplemental steam generating coils are arranged in the formof an inverted cone with the adjacent coils contacting each other to reduce the possibility of the coils being overheated'l; and so that contiguous coils willradiate heat from one to the other to prevent overheating of any one or more coils, and the superheating coil-s are liliewise arranged in the form of an inverted cone with the uppermost coil connected to pipe 53 and its lower coil connected to pipe 55.

lilncompassing the boiler units is a casing 56 comprising side walls 57 and top and bottom walls 58 and 59 respectively7 and which top andbottom walls are designed to beA removable to give access to the interior of the casino'. The bottom wall 59 is located below the burner 17 and forms chai'nber 60, with which the lower yends of the lire tubes 9 and the boiler units communicate, and which chamberv is provided with an opening 61 leading to astac'lr 62V for carrying ,olf the products of combustion.

The boiler units are designed to be filled with water to a point adjacent their upper ends; the water level preferably being normally maintained in the connection 17 between the boiler units and the steam manifold, or at such point within the boiler units that when water is expanded on initial heatingy thereof and steam passes to the manifold andl from themanifold into the coils 50,- a quantity of waiter will be delivered to the coils 50 so that a number of the lowermost coi-ls 50' will contain water, especially when the boiler is cool".

The products of combustion generated by the burner initially act on the fuely generating tubes, then pass around the superheating coils and along. the sides of the boiler units; a portion of the products of combustion iiupingingon the coils 50 so' as to effect an initial generation' of steam in said .coils on starting` the boiler in operation,` and also to convert into steam such water as may be delivered tothe coils when the boiler is in operation. a supplemental steam generator'. As the products of combustionA rise a portion thereof is deflected outwardly by the inverted cone structure' of the steam generator coils 50 and caused4 to Contact 'with the side walls of the boiler units which are disposed close to one aiiother, so that heat isV not lost to the side walls 57 of the casing 56. The products of combustion then pass downward through the lire tubes, but at the time of reaching the' upper ends of the boiler uni-ts to enter the fire tubes are reduced in temperature so that the connections,l between the unitsa'nd the? steam manifold are lnot The coils 50 therefore serve asx subject to maximum temperaturesg tending toincrease the life of those connections.

The products of combustion in passing downward through the tubes heats the water inthe boiler units, so that the maximum amount of heat is utilized and are linally discharged at the lower ends of the boiler units at the coldest points of the latter into the chamber 60. `When these products of combustion have given up the most of their ar l heat they enter the chamber (30, come in contact with the feedwater manifold and the walls of the burner body as well, both of which are at practically atmospheric temperatures, kwith the result that the water in this manifold and the burner body are preheated. .As a resultthe productsA of oombu'stion are reduced to minimum temperature before escaping through the flue and since a negligible amount of heat escapes through the side walls of the casing it is obvious that a high evaporative efficiency is reached by the steam generating plant. By disposin the burner body within the chamber the mixture of gassified fuel and air from the burner is prevented from precipitating. condensed fuel vapors.

The operation of the boiler is as follows: rlhe fuel tanlts are filled and subjected to the requisite pressures by means of an air pump or other means not shown, A small quantity of gasoline is admitted to the upper surface of the pilot burner by opening the valve in the priming line. This gasoline is lighted and heats the fuel in the gas'generC tor resulting in a. being formed which enters the burner through the nozzle and is ignited bythe gasoline burning on the upper face of the pilot burner. By means ofthe insulating stems on the check valvesr 'r: gasoline at pressure is admitted to the generator to supply to the burner and as thc volume of fuel vapor entering the burner increases the panel: swings open and thc inner burner is brought into full operation.

The products of ycombustion follow the pathv as above described and steam rises from the water in the boiler units and passes through the steam manifold int-.o the coils 50, in which globules of water carried by the steam are converted into saturated steam which maj,v pass to the superheater coils on opening valve 52 where the moisture in the steam is entirelyv evaporated. Vhen this generating of steam has resulted in a predetermined steam pressure the pressure overcomes the tension of the springr Lcontrolling the diaphragm to close ofi the suppljiT of kerosene to the burner7 whereupon the pressure' in the gasoline tank forces gasoline to the burner. The low pressure of the gasoline results in less 'fuelentering the burner with the result that the panel closes automatically and the pilot flame only is kept burning to maint-ain steam pressure.

Sil

llvhen steam is required tor use the control va ve is opened and steam enters the superheater and passes out through the discharge line. Immediately thc' pressure being` reduced the spring,` raises the diaphragm and the burner is brought into full operation again. It will be observed that the boiler is entirely automatic in its operation and generates steam as fast as it is required to full capacity and all steam is delivered to the discharge pipe in a. siiperheated form and the maximum caloritic value of the fuel is utilized in generating steam.

Ry the arrangement ot' the boiler units and the steam coils shown, the boilers will serve as a storage :lor hot water and as puriiiers, as sediment will tall below the point ot circulation in the boilers and may be readily removed therefrom.

ily the (.fonstruction and arrangement oli the various parts oi the steam generator herein disclosed repairs may be readily effected; the portions most subject to getting out ol order being ot easy access. For example, in event leaks occur at the boiler tube and end plate connections, the ends ot' the tubes may be expanded by Vsuitable tool without demounting the faulty unit, as by removing" the top or bottom walls of the housinothe ends of the boiler units will be exposed.

lt is to be noted that by connecting the steam manitold to the lower or apex portion otl the supplemental generating coils which is disposed closest the burner, lthe water Aglobules carried into the tubes will be immediately subjected to a maximum heat, and this excess moisture being initially delivered to the port-ion of the coils subjected to the `greatest heat will aid in preventing burningv out or overheating ot the coils.

The boiler units being' disposed with their lower ends located below the combustion chamber, any leakage around the lire tubes at this end ot the boiler will not affect the lire and sediment collecting in a boiler unit will be deposited below the point of flame a ction on the boiler, and in an eddy of relatively still water below the pointof circulation thereby greatly reducing' incrustation ot the boiler. The upper end of the boiler units constitutingthe tube sheets thereo't being disposed in tlie upper portion ot the combustion chamber remote from the burner will not be subjected to the direct action ot the flames` will obviate burning out ot the tube sheet and tube connections. Furthermore` the connections between the boiler units and the steam manifold by being arranged remote from the burner will be protceted against overheating'.

By the combination ot coil and tubular `ioiler elements here disclosed with the tube communicating with the upper portion of the boiler the boilers will serve to collect all sedimentso that pure water will be delivered to the coils thereby obviating accumulations ot sediment iii the coils and clogging` thereof.

YWhile l have shown and described a specific embodiment ot' my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction or the arrangement oi parts shown, but may employ such changes and modiications ot the invention as come within the scope ol the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a steam power plant, a series oi boiler units lit-ted with fire tubes, a steam manifold arranged adjacent to the upper ends of said units, a water manifold arranged adjacent to the lower ends ot said units, each of said units beingdctacliably connected to said manifolds, a housing,` cncompassing the boiler units and manifolds, a heating` clement arranged adjacent to the lower ends et said boiler units and an arrangement whereby the heat generated by said heating;` element will pass upwardly to the upper ends ot said boiler units, then flow downwardly through the tire tubes of said units, and a supplemental steam generatingi' coil connecting with said steam inanitold and projecting downwardly toward the heatingelement.

2. In a steam power plant, a series ot boiler units fitted with lire tubes, a steam manifold arranged adjacent to the upper ends ot said units, a water manifold arranged adjacent to the lower ends ot' said units, each ot said units being,` detachably connected to said manifolds, a housingencompassing' the boiler units and manifolds, a heating` element arranged adjacent to the lower ends ot said boiler units and an arrangement whereby the heat generated by sai-d heating element will pass upwardly to the upper ends of said boiler units, then iiow downwardly through the lire tribes ot said units, and a supplemental steam generating1 coil connecting` with said steam manifold and projecting downwardly toward thc heating element; a suporheating coil interposed between the heating; element and the steam generating;` coils and a valve connection between said steam generating coils and the supcrheating coil.

8. In a steam generator, the combination ot a burner having` an upper tace formed with burner openings, a plurality ot spaced vertical boiler units arranged around said burner with the lower end portions thereof extending,r below the upper iace. oi.: said burner and with the major portions thereof extending above the burner, means connectingrr the lower end portions ot adjacent boiler units to form a water connection throughout the series ot units on a plane below the top of the burner, a steam manifold, means whereby each ot said manifold units is seplll?) lil() arately connected at its upper end to said steam manifold, a supplemental steam generator coil in the form of an inverted cone arranged within the space surrounded by said boiler units and having;l its lowerinost convolution connected to said steam manifold, and a control valve to which the upper convolution of said coil leads; said coil operating as a llame spreader to direct flames against said boiler units.

4. In a steam generator, the combination of burner having an upper tace formed wit-h burner openings, a plurality o' spaced vertical boiler units arranged around said burner with the lower end portions thereof extending,- below the upper face of said burner and with the major portions thereoic extending above the burner, means for delivering` water to the lower end portion of each of said boiler units, a steam manifold to which the upper end of each of said units connects, and a supplemental steam genera tor coil in the form of an inverted cone arranged within the space surrounded by the boiler units and having its lowermost convolution connected to said steam manifold; said coil servingas a llame spreader o direct `llames against and between said spaced vertical boiler units.

In steam generator, a series of vertical boiler units arranged in a circle, a steam manifold connecting'said boiler units, a supplement-al steam generating coil. arranged in the Jiorm of an inverted cone havingY adjacent convolutions abutting' whereby heat ma7 radiate from Vone coil to the next, said coil depending below Vhe upper ends ot said boiler units and having; its lower coil connected to said manifold, said coil operating a ilanie spreader to direct flames against said boiler units, a burner located below saidcoil, and a superheatinc,` coil interposec between the lirst named coil and burner connected. to the uppermost convolution ol said first named coil.

G. ln a steam generator, a burner. s series oi vertical iiretube boiler units arranged around said burner, a steam manifold, detachable. connections between said manifold and each of said boiler units, a snppleniental steam generator comprising a coil of tubing,

arranged in the form oi inverted cone and depending into the space surrounded by said boiler units, the lowermostl coil oi which connects with the steam manifold wherebyv water may be delivered from said boiler units to said generator, and a superheater coil interposed .between said generator coil and the burner and connecting with the uppermost coil of the generator coil; said generator coil serving to direct flames against said boiler units.

7. ln a steam generator, a burner, a series of vertical iiretube boiler units arranged around said burner, a supplemental steam generating coil arranged in the space encircled by said boiler units, a communica tion between the lowermost coil o1" said gen` erator and the upper portions of said boiler vunits whereby water and vapors maj7 be delivered from said generator, a discharge pipe connecting with the upper coil orn said gein erator, a superheating` coil interposed between the burner and the generatin@ coil communicating with the upper portion of the latter, and a valve for controlling; the communicationbetween said coils.

8. A steam generator comprising,` a combustion chamber enclosed by side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall; aburner insaid combustion chamber, a series of vertical firetube boiler units arranged around said burner having their lower ends opening below the bottom wall of the combustion chamber and their upper ends opening` to the combustion chamber, a water manifold connecting` the waterY spaces in the lower ends of said boiler units, a steamy manifold connecting the upper ends of the water spaces in said boiler units, a supplemental steam generating coil arranged in the space surrounded b v sai-d boiler umts having its Vlowermost coil commui'iicating with said TALTER B. KEBRICK. 

